# shifting

/ˈʃɪftɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈɪftɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shifting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. constantly changing

adjective · CEFR B2

changing often, especially in a way that makes something difficult to rely on.

For teachers: characterised by frequent change in position, direction, or nature; often implies instability or unreliability.

- The desert is a dangerous place because of the shifting sands.
- In the shifting political landscape of the late twentieth century, traditional alliances were frequently discarded in favour of pragmatic economic partnerships.

### 2. the act of moving

noun · CEFR B2

the act of moving something from one place to another.

For teachers: the process or act of changing the position or orientation of an object or concept.

- The constant shifting of furniture in the apartment above kept me awake.
- The gradual shifting of tectonic plates over millions of years resulted in the formation of the mountain range we see today.

### 3. word order change

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when parts of a sentence move to a different position than usual.

For teachers: the phenomenon by which two or more constituents appearing on the same side of their common head exchange positions to obtain non-canonical order.

- The professor explained how shifting affects the meaning of the sentence.
- Heavy NP shifting allows long, complex noun phrases to move to the end of a clause, thereby improving the overall processing flow for the listener.

## Examples

- The shifting of the sand makes it hard to walk.
- A gradual shifting of public opinion led to the new law being passed by a large majority.
- The constant shifting of tectonic plates beneath the ocean floor is responsible for the frequent seismic activity recorded in this region over the last decade.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.